Andre Miller led the Denver Nuggets to a series-opening victory over the Golden State Warriors. / Chris Humphreys, USA TODAY Sports

by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

Thirty-seven-year-old Andre Miller scored 28 points to lead the Denver Nuggets as they took the first game of their first-round playoff series with the Golden State Warriors 97-95. Miller drove for a layup as time wound down with the score tied, and the Warriors were unable to get a shot off in the final second.

Warriors forward David Lee suffered a right hip flexor strain in the second half after a collision with Nuggets center JaVale McGee and did not return to the game.

Lee finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, all but two off the defensive glass. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 22 points and Stephen Curry had 19. Jarret Jack added 10 points and 10 assists.

However, while one half of Golden State's frontcourt went down with an injury, the Warriors were kept afloat by the other. Center Andrew Bogut, who has dealt with various injuries since being acquired at the 2012 trade deadline, looked like the Bogut who was one of the best big men in the league with the Milwaukee Bucks. He finished with nine points, 14 rebounds and four blocks and anchored Golden State's defense.

"We found a way to pull it out," Miller told reporters. "This was a tough game."

Curry, who set the record for most three-pointers made in a season, struggled to score in the first half but heated up in the second. He finished with 19 points on 9-for-20 shooting and nine assists, including a game-tying three with under a minute left.

Outside of Miller, Denver found success with a balanced scoring attack. Ty Lawson had 12 points, Wilson Chandler and Evan Fournier had 11 each, and Corey Brewer added 10 off the bench. However, the night belonged to Miller, who heated up in the second half and shot an efficient 11-for-16 from the field on the night.

Lee's status is unknown for the second game of the series, which takes place at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He will undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. The Nuggets were without starting power forward Kenneth Faried, who is expected to play in Game 2 after suffering an ankle injury on Sunday.

In their three home losses this season, the Nuggets managed 42 first-half points against Miami on Nov. 15, 43 against Minnesota on Jan. 3 and 50 against Washington on Jan. 18, before winning their last 23 home games heading into the playoffs.

"You play 82 games to get to this spot, to have your home court help you with confidence, help you with the jitters," Nuggets coach George Karl said before tip-off. "I think Golden State is a very good opponent and a very difficult opponent in a lot of ways. I don't expect it to be anything but a damn good basketball series Today's the first game and let's see what happens."

What happened was the Nuggets nearly lost the home-court advantage they so cherished.

Not having their best free-throw shooter in Danilo Gallinari (out with an ACL injury) and their top rebounder in Kenneth Faried (ankle) didn't help.

But the Nuggets pulled out another close one at home.

They haven't lost at home in more than three months, but Golden State coach Mark Jackson dismissed any notion that it was because of altitude or boisterous crowds.

"We've watched every bit of film and I haven't seen the altitude score and I haven't seen a fan score or rebound," Jackson said before the game. "At the end of the day, credit goes to that coaching staff led by George Karl and that group of players. Win, lose or draw, it won't be because of the fans or the altitude."

Jackson played in plenty of playoff games but this was his postseason coaching debut. He said he had no butterflies, however: "We're playing with house money. We're going to roll this dice and have fun with it. Nobody expects us (to win) and that's OK. If I was picking, I'd pick them to win it. I'd pick them to win this series. I'd give them the edge at coaching, too."

Karl laughed at that remark.

"Pile on those expectations," he said. "Let's go, baby!"

Karl freely admitted he was a bundle of nerves before the game: "I'm nervous for summer league games, so why wouldn't I be nervous for this game?"